Miscalculation Threatens Family's SSI Benefits

Lexie White, with her sons Jevon Bell, 12, left and Devan Bell, 10, at their Lakeland home, has received assistance from The Ledger's Newspaper With a Heart program as she appeals to Social Security for restoration of benefits.

Their father is behind bars, so she receives no child support, and providing for her boys, Javon and Devan Bell, hasn't been easy. White earns just under $9 an hour in her part-time position with Grasslands Golf and Country Club in Lakeland.

To help make ends meet, she relies on government subsidies, including a monthly benefit for her learning disability and additional benefits for her children.

Their combined, monthly subsidy of $1,351 was enough for the family of three to get by on and live in a rental home just steps away from North Lakeland Elementary School, where Javon, 12, who has ADHD, and Devan, 10, who has a speech disability, are students.

It's a lifestyle now threatened by a miscalculation in White's Social Security Disability Insurance benefit. Even with her subsidies, she fell at 150 percent of federal poverty guidelines. On her salary alone, she'd fall perilously below 100 percent.

If her appeal to Social Security is denied, White is prepared for the possibility of having to find a second job. Meanwhile, she has reached out to The Ledger's Newspaper with a Heart program to stop her eviction, which is imminent, and keep the lights turned on.

"I thank God for this program," White said. "They helped me when I was in need."

THE PROGRAM

Nearing the completion of its 44th year, the Newspaper with a Heart program aims to assist families in crisis by providing a temporary bridge of support. It depends on donations from Ledger readers to help those who might not qualify for other forms of assistance.

The Ledger covers all administrative costs of the program so that every dollar goes to assist those in need. It partners with United Way of Central Florida in reviewing applications for assistance. CPS Investment Advisors and SunTrust Banks assist with accounting.

YEARS OF MISCALCULATION

In November, White's financial cushion was snatched away after the Social Security Administration determined it had been calculating White's disability benefit incorrectly for years, culminating in an overpayment of $34,895.

It appears to be the fault of White, who failed to follow protocol for reporting her dishwasher income.

Had she been filing an annual estimation of income report, the Social Security Administration would have adjusted her monthly SSDI benefit, said Wanke Hampton, a disability consultant who serves the Newspaper with a Heart committee.

White routinely reports her work income to the office that oversees her children's Supplemental Security Income. She depended on the system to keep the balance sheet in check, but that didn't happen.

"I never got a letter saying I earned too much money (in salary)," she said.

To rectify the mistake, the government has suspended all assistance, forcing White to make do solely on her dishwasher salary, which fluctuates from week to week. As a part-timer, she averages 33 hours a week on a job that she adores.

The Lakeland native said she has struggled her entire life to overcome a learning disability. She's worked a string of odd jobs, restaurant server included, since graduating from Lakeland High School in 1995.

White said she's above casting blame for her situation. She said she routinely turned in her Grassland check stubs to the local Social Security office, a requirement for keeping SSI benefits for her children. She assumed, incorrectly, that the information would be shared with the division handling SSDI.

In November, she received a letter informing her of the overpayment of $34,895, a whopping sum to White, who tears up when talking about it.

"To be honest with you, it was devastating," she said. "I didn't want to be homeless."

With help from Hampton Disability Specialists of Lakeland, White is appealing the decision by the Social Security Administration to suspend the SSI checks for her two children. Ultimately, the issue of her overpayment may be presented to an administrative law judge, who could write off all or a part of the debt.

While waiting for a decision, White is searching for a home to lower her monthly rent of $800. A former tenant of public housing, she's back on a waiting list, hoping to find a suitable, yet affordable, place for her and her children.

"I'm not going to give up," she said. "Something will break through for us."

[ Eric Pera can be reached at eric.pera@theledger.com or 863-802-7528. ]

<p>LAKELAND | Working as a dishwasher means the world to Lexie White, 36, a single mother of two young boys. </p><p>Their father is behind bars, so she receives no child support, and providing for her boys, Javon and Devan Bell, hasn't been easy. White earns just under $9 an hour in her part-time position with Grasslands Golf and Country Club in Lakeland.</p><p>To help make ends meet, she relies on government subsidies, including a monthly benefit for her learning disability and additional benefits for her children.</p><p>Their combined, monthly subsidy of $1,351 was enough for the family of three to get by on and live in a rental home just steps away from North Lakeland Elementary School, where Javon, 12, who has ADHD, and Devan, 10, who has a speech disability, are students.</p><p>It's a lifestyle now threatened by a miscalculation in White's Social Security Disability Insurance benefit. Even with her subsidies, she fell at 150 percent of federal poverty guidelines. On her salary alone, she'd fall perilously below 100 percent. </p><p>If her appeal to Social Security is denied, White is prepared for the possibility of having to find a second job. Meanwhile, she has reached out to The Ledger's Newspaper with a Heart program to stop her eviction, which is imminent, and keep the lights turned on.</p><p>"I thank God for this program," White said. "They helped me when I was in need."</p><p>THE PROGRAM</p><p>Nearing the completion of its 44th year, the Newspaper with a Heart program aims to assist families in crisis by providing a temporary bridge of support. It depends on donations from Ledger readers to help those who might not qualify for other forms of assistance.</p><p>The Ledger covers all administrative costs of the program so that every dollar goes to assist those in need. It partners with United Way of Central Florida in reviewing applications for assistance. CPS Investment Advisors and SunTrust Banks assist with accounting.</p><p>YEARS OF MISCALCULATION</p><p>In November, White's financial cushion was snatched away after the Social Security Administration determined it had been calculating White's disability benefit incorrectly for years, culminating in an overpayment of $34,895.</p><p>It appears to be the fault of White, who failed to follow protocol for reporting her dishwasher income.</p><p>Had she been filing an annual estimation of income report, the Social Security Administration would have adjusted her monthly SSDI benefit, said Wanke Hampton, a disability consultant who serves the Newspaper with a Heart committee. </p><p>White routinely reports her work income to the office that oversees her children's Supplemental Security Income. She depended on the system to keep the balance sheet in check, but that didn't happen.</p><p>"I never got a letter saying I earned too much money (in salary)," she said.</p><p>To rectify the mistake, the government has suspended all assistance, forcing White to make do solely on her dishwasher salary, which fluctuates from week to week. As a part-timer, she averages 33 hours a week on a job that she adores.</p><p>The Lakeland native said she has struggled her entire life to overcome a learning disability. She's worked a string of odd jobs, restaurant server included, since graduating from Lakeland High School in 1995. </p><p>"I love my job," she said. "I have the sweetest co-workers and management. If I don't have a ride home, they'll bring me home. They're sweet people."</p><p>White said she's above casting blame for her situation. She said she routinely turned in her Grassland check stubs to the local Social Security office, a requirement for keeping SSI benefits for her children. She assumed, incorrectly, that the information would be shared with the division handling SSDI.</p><p>In November, she received a letter informing her of the overpayment of $34,895, a whopping sum to White, who tears up when talking about it.</p><p>"To be honest with you, it was devastating," she said. "I didn't want to be homeless."</p><p>With help from Hampton Disability Specialists of Lakeland, White is appealing the decision by the Social Security Administration to suspend the SSI checks for her two children. Ultimately, the issue of her overpayment may be presented to an administrative law judge, who could write off all or a part of the debt.</p><p>While waiting for a decision, White is searching for a home to lower her monthly rent of $800. A former tenant of public housing, she's back on a waiting list, hoping to find a suitable, yet affordable, place for her and her children.</p><p>"I'm not going to give up," she said. "Something will break through for us."</p><p>[ Eric Pera can be reached at eric.pera@theledger.com or 863-802-7528. ]</p>